Nail



K. KLEIN Dec. i0, 1946.

NAIL

Filed Jan. 26, 1945 Patented Dec. lil, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NAIL Karl Klein, Westport, Conn.

Application January 26, 1945, Serial No. 574,704

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a nail and particularly to a nail which will have increased holding power over or by comparison with an ordinary or conventional nail. It has for one object to provide a nail structure so shaped that a substantial part of the nail is put under heavy compression, and therefore tends denitely to adhere to the perforation or opening in which it is positioned.

Another object is to provide a nail having a maximum surface area for contact with the material into which the nail is driven. Y

Another object is to provide a partially `hollow nail with relatively thin` walls susceptible to slightl distortion upon being subjected to compression.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the nail;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the nail of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken at line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section generally similar to Figure 3, and showing a modified form;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken at line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a transverse section taken at line 'I-I of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side elevation with parts broken away, showing a further modication;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectiontaken at line 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken at line Ill--Ill of Figure 8.

Like `parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawing.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the nail comprises a generally tubular or cylindrical shank section I. This is provided with relatively thin Walls and a pointed or tapered bottom portion 2. Integral with the cylindrical portion I is a plurality of longitudinally disposed vanes 3. These vanes are of one diameter throughout the major length of the hollow portion I. They are reduced, as at 4. This reduction occurs approximately at the point where the hollow portion I is reduced.

The reduction from the portion of each vane 3 to the portion 4 of the same vane may occur gradually or may be relatively sudden and ,provide a steep portion 5. The vanes 4 are tapered, as at 6, and meetat a point "I, A ilat head 8 is formed integrally with the hollow portion I a-nd the vane portions 3. As shown, there are three vanes. For some purposes a lesser number-or a greater number of vanes might be used.

The nail of Figure 5 differs mainly from the nail of the earlier gures b-y the fact that an enlarged solid portion is present below the hollow portion. Thus the nail 5 consists of a hollow cylindrical or tubular portion 9 with an integral flat head l0. Below the hollow portion 9 is a rounded, somewhat reduced solid portion II. A relatively sharp taper I2 may join the exterior of the portion I with the portion II. The solid portion I I is tapered, as at I3, to form a point i4.

Formed integrally with the hollow portion 9 and the head I0 is a plurality of vanes I5. These vanes are of one diameter throughout substantially the length oi the hollow portion and are tapered to form vanes of less diameter' I6 generally throughout the length of thesolid `portion I I, A relatively steep taper l1 may join the portions I5 and I6 of each vane, or this taper may be more gradual. The reduced vane portions I6 are further reduced or tapered, as at I8, and come together at the point I4. The entire structure is preferably integral.

The form of Figures 8, 9 and 10 diie'r's from the preceding forms mainly in the fact that the hollow portion, instead of being tubular or Cylindrical, is irregularly shaped with a plurality of concaves. Thus a hollow portion AI9 is bounded by three concave walls 20, although it might be bounded by a larger number of walls. Vane portions 2I are formed integrally with the wall portions 2'l'. Below the hollow portion formed by the concave walls 2D' the vanes are reduced, as at 22. Each vane portion 2l may be joined to the corresponding portion 22 by sharply reduced or tapered `portion 23, or the taper may be more gentle. The reduced Jportions, 23 are further -reduced or tapered, as at 24, and meet to form a point 25. Formed on the nail and integrally with its various parts is a head which comprises an annularwall 25 and a iiat or shoulder portion 2l. Within the annular member 26' andabove the flat portion 2l is formed a depression 28r which may receive finishing material when the nail is driven home.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will be recognized that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of parts can be made Without departing from the 3 spirit of the invention, and my showing is therefore to be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic.

The use and operation of this invention are asfollows:

This nail may -be used for almost any purpose for which a nail is required, but i-t is particularly advantageous for use where especially strong holding powers are required. In many situations in which a nail is required, it is undesirable or unsatisfactory to use a drive screw or a ring shank nail or other nails having a shank with more or less transverse members. With certain types of wood and wood in certain conditions, some nails having roughened shanks or drive screw nails tend to break or shred the fibers of the Wood and when that occurs, as the lumber in which the nail is driven dries out, the hold of the nail upon the lumber is weakened by the drying of the shredded or broken fibers. It is one of the purposes of this invention to provide a nail having substantial holding powers and arranged to break or disturb the fibers of the wood as little as possible The nail also has important uses as a nail in which it is used to fasten plaster board, laminated boards and other structural members in place and in which the nail itself is driven flush with the outer surface or actually beneath the outer surface and a finishing material such as plaster is applied to the entire wall structure.

In a case of that sort a nail of the form of Figure 8 has particular advantages, but the other forms are also adaptable. A part, at least, of .the hollow may receive finishing material which keys with it and which not only covers the nail, but serves Ito hold lthe finishing material in place because of its engagement with the nail.

When the nail is to be used in any of its forms, it is driven into .the material which is Ato be held in place. In each form of the device the lower portion is of less diameter than an upper portion. The lower portion serves as a penetrating and hole or perforation forming member. It is into this hole or perforation which has initially been formed by the lower portion of the nail that the upper portion or larger portion of the nail is driven. As the larger portion of the nail moves into the opening formed by the smaller or narrower portion of the nail, it is put under compression andthe thin walled hollow portion is put under definite and substantial compression. As a result of this, the outer surface of the hollow portion of the nail grips the wall of the perforation into which it has been driven more eiectively than would be the case if the entire nail were of uniform diameter.

The narrower or smaller part of the nail is solid and that is the portion which effects penetration of the Wood or wall board or other ma- .terial into which the nail is driven. Because this relatively thin walled tubular section has resiliency, it is capable of exerting pressure in a radial direction against .the wood or wall board or other material into which it is driven.

This is in sharp contrast to the performance of a solid nail which, when driven into such material, lacks resiliency and can exert no pressure, radial or otherwise, upon the material which engages it. Tha-t portion of the hollow member I,

9 or 20 which carries the vanes or prongs 3, I5 or 2| -having some resiliency and being under compression, offers resistance to the displacing which is exerted upon the nail by the walls of the holes or perforations within which .the nail lies. 'Ihus by compressing the walls of the hollow portion, a force is obtained which presses from .the center of the hollow portion outwardly toward the periphery and creates friction between the nail and the walls of the hole within which it lies. This friction is suicient to result in adequate holding power and to prevent displacement of the nail.

The head of the nail is, in the form shown, only slightly larger lthan the over-all diameter of .the nail, including the vanes. It might be of greater or less relative diameter. When the nail is driven the head may be countersunk, if desired, and nishing material such as plaster or something comparable to it may be spread over the wall end of the nail head and will penetrate into .the nail and key with it as above described.

I claim:

1. In combination in a nail, a hollow shank portion, closed at one end, a plurality of generally radially projecting vanes positioned on the exterior of said hollow portion and spaced about its surface, said vanes being of reduced radial extent below said hollow portion, and joined at their inner edges and terminating in a point, there being a head xed upon the nail, the hollow portion, the vanes and the head being integral with respect to each other.

2. In combination in a nail, a hollow unbroken cylindrical shank portion having one end open, a plurality of generally radially projecting vanes positioned on the exterior of said hollow portion and symmetrically spaced about its surface, said vanes being of reduced radial extent below said hollow portion, and joined at .their inner edges and terminating in a point, a nail head at the open end of the shank. the hollow portion, the vanes and the head being integral with respect to each other.

3. In combination in a nail having a plurality of outwardly directed vanes of varying radial extent, the lower ends of said vanes being joined at their inner edges, and terminating in a point, and means for exerting an outward pressure upon the material into which said nail is driven, said means comprising a relatively thin walled hollow member carrying said vanes, all of the parts of said nail being integrally formed each with respect to the others.

4. In combination in a nail a plurality of symmetrically spaced, outwardly directed vanes of varying radial extent, said vanes being of lesser radius toward the lower portion of the nail, and terminating in a point, and means for exerting an outward pressure upon a body into which the nail is driven, said means comprising a relatively thin walled hollow member carrying said vanes, and positioned generally above and away from the point of said nail, all of the parts of said nail being integrally formed each with respect to the others.

KARL KLEIN. 

